ELA non-fiction terms Flashcards
Mode of development
Method used to develop the main idea.
Mode of development purpose
To provide the reader with specific info needed to support/clarify the main idea.
Narration
The recounting of events of a situation/incident.
Types of narration
Chronological order (time), Flashback style (time)
Description
Details about something.
Types of description
Order of importance (least to more important details), Spatial order (how things are arrange)
Examples
Use of specific examples to support main idea.
Classification and Division
Taking a group and organizing it into categories. Ex: Dividing a car into parts: “motor, tires, brakes
Comparison and Contrast
Show how items are alike an different
Process
Method of doing a task/job in orderly steps. Ex: tutorials, recipes
Cause and effect
Why something turns out the way it does
Initiator of an effect
Catalyst
Definition
Provides an explanation of a word/concept, usually uses another mode of development to enhance the description
Persuasion
Convincing the reader that you are right about a topic.
How is persuasion affective?
Is subjective and appeals to the emotions through connotations of words.
Argumentation
Based on pure logic, is objective. Based on a CONTROVERSIAL idea.
Elements of argumentation:
Problem, solution, evidence, refutation, conclusion
What is refutation?
The writer mentions opposing point of view and counters it.
Anecdote
A brief story of an incident to support the purpose.
Aristotle’s Three Appeals
A process of codifying the possible ways that speakers or writers could persuade their audiences by the use of evidence.
Logos
Rational appeal, uses logic, facts, and statistics to persuade reader.
Ethos
Ethical appeal, uses writer’s reputation or authority to persuade reader they are right.
Pathos
Emotional appeal, persuasive language based on the emotions.
Audience
The group for whom the piece of writing is written for
Allusion
A short, informal reference to a famous person or event. Ex: history, story, movement
Ambiguity
Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation. Usually caused by words with multiple meanings or weird wording.
What is this quote an example of? “I rode a black horse in red pajamas”
Ambiguity
Analogy
Compares two things for the purpose of explaining or clarifying. Practical and more extended
Simile
A more artistic likening done briefly for effect and emphasis
Difference between analogy and simile?
Similes are more present in fiction while analogies are more practical and explain something with something that’s similar to it.
Anaphora
The repetition of the same word/words at the beginning of sentences.
“We shall not flag or fail. We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans. We shall fight with growing confidence.”
Example of anaphora
Antithesis
A concept used to establish a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together/juxtaposing them.
Apostrophe
A device that interrupts the discussion and addresses directly a person/personified thing.
Apostrophe purpose
To give vent to or display intense emotion.
“For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.” “Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him.”
Apostrophe example
Connotative language
Language that is emotionally charged to evoke emotions in the reader
Dialogue
Conversation between two persons.
Diction
The choice and use of words in speech or writing
Types of diction
Formal, informal, colloquial (geographic), and slang.
Euphemism
The act of substituting a mild term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive
“Her clothes were very inexpensive!” to: “Her clothes were cheap.”
Example of euphemism
Hyperbole
Exaggerates conditions for emphasis or effect.
Types of main idea
Implied main idea: not stated outright but suggested
Stated main idea: Stated in a thesis statement
Medium
Sources of literature
Biographies, journals, documentaries, newspaper articles
Examples of mediums
Extended metaphor (Conceit)
Establishes a principal subject of comparison and the subsidiary subject (comparisons).
“You’re a snake! Everything you hiss out of your mouth is a lie.”
Example of extended metaphor
Occassion
The circumstances surrounding the writing, reasons for writing the work.
Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate the subject talked about. “Buzzzz”
Oxymoron
Two words in a phrase that contradict each other but still make sense. Ex: “pretty ugly”
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory statement that also has truth to it.
“Don’t go near the water until you learn how to swim.”
Example of paradox
Objective perspective
Simply facts.
Subjective perspective
Opinion-based.
Parallelism
One word repeated
“No pain no gain”
Example of parallelism
Rhetorical question
Question not meant to be answered but supposed to be obvious as a result of argumentation
Rhetorical triangle
When one elements changes, the others do too. Ex: Change of audience= Change of subject= Change of purpose= Change of tone.
Syntax
The grammatical arrangement of words in sentences
Understatement
To express an idea as less important than it actually is. Either for ironic emphasis or for politeness and tact.
“The 1906 San Francisco earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the downtown area.”
Example of understatement
Malapropism
The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect
“Dance a flamingo” instead of “Dance a flamenco”
Example of malapropism
Asyndeton
Involved omitting conjunctions to change the tone
Conjunctions
For, and, nor, because, or, yet, so
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Example of asyndeton
Syndeton
Uses conjunctions to join words, phrases, causes reader to slow down
Polysyndeton
Uses multiple conjunctions (unnatural sounding)
We packed sandwiches and apples and raisins and cupcakes and chips
Example of polysyndeton
